The panelists will address the positions of Nigeria, US Museums, European Museums and US DNA Descendants regarding their respective interests in the Benin Bronzes. Event is fully virtual but Cardozo students can watch the panel in Room 304.

** This online panel is approved for up to 1.5 transitional/non-transitional New York State CLE credits in the category “Areas of Professional Practice.” To receive CLE credits for the panel, you must attend the program “live.” We cannot award CLE credits for watching a recorded version of any part of this program. **

1. Online affirmation form: link will appear here day-of
2. CLE relevant materials:

• Background and Context for Panel from William G. Pearlstein
• "Who Benefits When Western Museums Return Looted Art" David Frum (This article appears in the October 2022 print edition of The Atlantic with the headline “Who Do the Benin Bronzes Belong To?”)
• Lawsuit that panelist, Deadria Farmer-Paellmann's Restitution Study Group brought against the Smithsonian.
• "Return of Benin art objects a distraction from bigger issues" The Nation (by our panelist, Moyosore Okediji)

Panelists:

Chika Okeke-Agulu, Princeton University, Professor of Art and Archaeology and African American Studies, Director, Africa World Initiative and Program in African Studies African and African Diaspora.

Moyosore Okediji, University of Texas, Professor Art History, African Art.

Kevin Tervala, Ph.D., Baltimore Museum of Art, Associate Curator of African and Oceanic Art, Department Head, Arts of Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

Deadria Farmer-Paellmann, J.D., M.A. Executive Director, Restitution Study Group. RSG advocates for the interest of the African-American descendants of slaves sold for the bronze “manillas” melted down to create the Benin Bronzes.

William Pearlstein, lawyer in New York experienced in cultural heritage matters. I will discuss some of the legal issues affecting the US Museums, Nigerians and US DNA Descendants.

Moderator:

Prof. David Rudenstine: Prof. Rudenstine is the Sheldon H. Solar Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus of Cardozo Law School. He is also an author on the historical British Parliamentary reports justifying retention of the Elgin Marbles.